Edmontonians love to host big events \u2014 and more often than not, we\u2019re good at it too.<\/p>\n
To name just a few, Edmonton has successfully laid on: the 1978 Commonwealth Games; the World University Games in 1983; the 2001 World Championships in Athletics; eight Edmonton Indy races, a smattering of Grey Cups and Stanley Cups, the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier, Canadian Finals Rodeos, triathlons, marathons, bike races, a Crashed Ice skating competition, the 2020 bubble NHL playoffs, World Cup qualifiers and just last December, a Big Air snowboarding spectacle complete with a giant jump straddling Commonwealth Stadium. Whew.<\/span><\/p>\n Albertans as a whole also do events well. That even includes Calgary which pulled off the Winter Olympics in 1988.<\/p>\n But while Albertans enjoy throwing a party, we also worry about finances, especially with rising interest rates, utilities, taxes and food bills. So, few Albertans are likely to quibble with the provincial government announcing Thursday that it\u2019s scuttling a potential bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.<\/span><\/p>\n Alberta had been considering a joint submission between Calgary, Edmonton and the Tsuut\u2019ina Nation with the province putting $2 million into bid exploration and Calgary and Edmonton each pitching in $1 million, but no longer. <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s not a good deal for Alberta,\u201d said Tourism Minister Joseph Schow. \u201cWhen it comes down to it, it has to be a good deal for Alberta taxpayers and this just wasn\u2019t that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As understatements go, that\u2019s a gold-medal winner. Hosting this party would have left Albertans with a multibillion-dollar hangover. The costs of this 11-day, multi-sport event are projected to be in excess of $2.6 billion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Problem is, the Commonwealth Games \u2014 without the participation of sports powerhouses like the U.S., Russia and China \u2014 aren\u2019t exactly the Olympics, or the World Cup, when it comes to revenue from broadcasting deals and corporate sponsorship. That leaves the bill for planning and delivery on taxpayers\u2019 shoulders \u2014 roughly, and rather optimistically, $590 for every Albertan adult and child.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s telling that Hamilton, which hosted the inaugural Games in 1930, shut down its bid for the 2030 Games in February and the Australian state of Victoria last month pulled out as host of the 2026 Games due to projected cost overruns. It\u2019s now unclear if the 2026 event will proceed as scheduled in less than three years\u2019 time.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, holding the 1978 Games left Edmonton with valuable legacies including Commonwealth Stadium, the Argyll Velodrome, the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre and the city\u2019s initial LRT line. Hosting the 2030 Games would have brought similar benefits: infrastructure investments, international exposure and a boost to Albertans\u2019 spirits. But in this case, the costs far outweigh the returns.<\/span><\/p>\n This is one party we will skip.<\/p>\nArticle content<\/h2>\n
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